Pneumatic-action for automatic pianos.



No. 891,951. PATENTED JUNE 30, H508.

W. J. PUDBLOW.

PNEUMATIC AGTION FOR AUTOMATIG PIANOS.

" APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14, 1907.

WITNESSES plane,

UNITED E TATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. PUBLO\\', OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGXOR TO THE FARRAXI) COMPANY. OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PNEUMATIC-ACTION FOR AUTOMATIC PIANOS'.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application .filed September 14, 1907. Serial No. 392,916.

following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.-

It is the object of the inventioi'i to condense the construction so as to occupy as small a space as possible within the piano case, and at the Sttl11i.til]1(fitt) obtain a positive and eflicient action. This object I attain by certain features of construction as hereinafter set forth In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the action; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the parts detached; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 0c-x, Fig. 1.

My improved action is of that type in which. pouches are used for the primary and secondary pneumatics, and the power or key, actuating pneumatic is of the bellows type. IYith such constructions, the primary and secondary pneumatics are usually in staggered. relation to each other so that the air passages leading thereto and from their respective valves may be formed without interference with each other. It is, however, necessary to pass from the plane of the primary pneumatic into the plane of'the secondary pneumatic in forming the wind passage from the valve controlled by the primary pneumatic to the secondary pouch. This necessitates longitudinal channeling or angular boring, both of which areobjcctionable and increase the cost of construction. It is further necessary to pass this channel from the top board of the wind chest in which the valves are located to the bottom board containing the pouches, and this is usually accomplished by extending the channel around through the outside Wall of the chest, which is av very indirect course.

With the present invention, I have both simplified and condensed the construction,

first, by arranging a partition strip between the primary and secondary pouches, extending from the top to the bottom of the valve chest, and forming a direct route for the air passages; and, second, in forming each air passage between the primary valve and secondary neumatic in a single transverse which is central With respect to the primary pneumatic and intersects the cell of the secondary pneumatic.

In detail, A is the bottom board and B the top board of the chest. The bottom board A has mounted thereon a series of primary pneumatic pouches O, which are preferably formed by buttons D, having stems I) secured in bores in the board A. The board A is also provided with a series of cells E for the. secondary pneumatic )ouches. These pneumatics O and E are preierably arranged in staggered relation and adjacent .to the op posite sides of the board A. F is a strip secured to the board A intermediate the pneumatics O and Eand extending into contact with the upper board B. This strip is provided with a double series of vertical bores G and H, the former extending downward through the strip F and into the center of the board A, while the latter isextended completely through the strip and board and the upper board of the power pneumatic I, which is arranged beneath the board A. The bore G is arranged in a transverse plane of the primary pneumatic C, and is connected with the valve e-cll J of the upper board B by a bore K extending from the outer edge of this upper board. The lower end of the bore G-intersects with a transversely extending bore L in the bottom board A, this being ar :1

ranged in the same transverse plane, and extending from the opposite edge of the chest;

Inasmuch as the primary and secondary pneumatics O and E are staggered in relation to each other, the here L, which is in the plane central with the primary pneumatic C, is ofi'set from the center of the pneumatic E. The plane of the bore will, however, intersect the cell for the pneumatic E, and connection is made by a vertical bore M at one side of the cell intersecting the bore L. Thus, a direct airpassage is formed between the cell J and the cell of the pneumatic E by the bores K, G and L.

A direct conmwtion also formed between the cell for the valve O operated by the secondary pneumatic and the power pneumatic controlled by said valve. This connection comprises the bore H, which extends through the strip F, board l gand. top board of the pneumatic I, and a registering bore I formed in the upper board, and which intersects with a lateral bore Q in said top board. This lateral bore is formed from the edge of the top board and intersects the v ive cell N, being as shown.

The chest is completed by side strips R and S. The strip R has formed therein'intersecting bores T and T, which communie cate with the bore U, connecting with the primary pneumatic pouch C. The opposite edge of theside R closes the ends of the bore K. V are bleed passages formed in the strip R and intersecting with the bores T. i The side strip S seals the ends of the bores L and Q, and also completes the chest. Thus, when the parts are assempled a vacuum chamber W is formed for the primary pneumatics. U on the opposite side of the division strip F is another vacuum chamber X for the secondary pneumatics and valves;

W" h the construction as described, the arts may be readily assembled, the upper lioard being secured to the lower by screws passing through the division strip F and the side strips F and S being screwed or otherwise secured to the edges of theupper and lower boards. On account of the directness of the air passages, the action responds very quickly, and, by reason of the peculiar'arrangement of the parts, the space occupied is reduced to a mlnimum.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a pneumatic action, a;wihd chest having passages in the top and bottom walls, primary and secondary pneumatics within said chest at the bottom thereof, valves operated by said pneumatics in thetop of said chest, and a conduit inter-mediate said valves connecting the passages inthe top and bottom walls of the chest forming in connecplane of one of said pneumatic at one side of vmatics, the top wall tion therewith a direct of said pneumatics and its controlling valve. 2. In a pneumatic action, 'a rectangular wind chest, parallel series of primary and secondary pneumatics and superposed'valves extending longitudinally of said chest in staggered relation, passages formed by bores perpendicular to thewalls of the chest each passage located in the central transverse primary pneumatics and corresponding secondary its central plane.

3. In a pneumatic action, a wind chest, a pneum tic within said chest at the bottom thereo.., a valve in the to 'of said chest, the top and bottom walls 0 said chest having passages therein, an intermediate stri between the to and bottom walls having a connecting with the passage in alinement'with said passages in the top and bottom walls whereby a continuous conduit is formed between said pneumatic and its controlling valve.

4. In a pneumatic action, a wind chest, primary and secondary pneumatics within said chest at the bottom thereof, valves in the top of said chest operated by said phenof said chest having a passage therein connecting-with said primary preferably elongated in section, I

passage between one -ch est,;pa1jallel series valve, the bottom wall of said chest having a passage therein connecting with said secondary pneumatic, an intermediate strip between the top and bottom walls having a vertical bore in alinement with said passages whereby a conduit is formed between said primary valve and secondary pneumatic.

5. In a pneumatic action, a wind chest, primary and secondary pneumatics within the chest, said chest, comprising a top wall having valve ports therein and bored passages communicating therewith, a bottom wall having bored passages therein leading respectively to the primary and secondary pneumatics and a strip forming a division in said chest havin straight passages therethrough establis iing communication be tween the passages in the upper and lower walls. Y i

6. In a pneumatic/action, a wind chest, primary and. secondary pneumatics within said chest at, the bottom thereof, valves in the top of said-chest operated b said pneumatics, the top wall of said c est having passages therein connecting with said valves formed by intersectingbores respectively per endicula'r to the end and bottom of said wa the. bottom'wall of said chesthaving passages therein connecting with said pneumatics formed by intersecting bores respectively perpendicular to the end and top of said wall, an intermediate strip between the bottom and to connecting with the bore in the to wall communicating with said rimary Val i e and the bore in thebottom wa l communicating with said secondary pneumatic forming a'continuous conduit therebetw'een.

walls having a vertical bore 7. Ina pneumatic action a wind chest, i

a power dpneumatic beneath the chest,'primary an secondary pneumatics within the chest at the bottom thereof, valves in the top of said chest operated by said pneumatics, the top wall for said chest having passages bored therein communicating respectively with said primary andsecondary valves,the bottom wall of said chest having passages boredtherein communicating respectively with said secondary neuinatics and said power pneumatics, an an intermediate strip between the upper and :lower'walls having conduits therein, one of s'aid conduits in -alinement with the passage in the-up or wall communicating with the primary valve and the passagein the lower wall communicating with the secondary pneumatic and another of said conduits being in alinement with the passage in the u perwall communicatingwith said secon ary valve and the passage in the lower wall communicating with said power pneumatic.

'8. In a pneumatic action, a rectangular wind-chest, apower p eum atic beneath said di primary and second ary pneumatics and. superposed primary 1 and. secondary valves extending Ion itudinaliy of the case in staggered relation, t e tog.

with said secondary pneumatic and\ said power pneumatic, and an intermediate strip between, the u per and lower Walls having vertical bores t erein, one ofsaid bores being in alinement with the passage in the'up er wall communicating with the primary va ve and the passage in-the lower wall communieating with the secondary pneumatic, and another of said bores being in alinement with the passage in the upper wall communicating with said secondary valve and the passage in the lower wall communicating with said-power pneumatic whereby continuous conduits are formed between said members. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM J. PUBLOW. 

